U.S. Government Contributes toward Coronavirus COVID-19 Awareness Response in South Africa

The United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is committing approximately 8 million rand ($500,000) in financing to support the Government of South Africa’s Risk Communication and Community Engagement plan in the response to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. According to Press release by the US Embassy in South Africa.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), risk communication and community engagement is an essential component of health emergency readiness and response activities. USAID is partnering with Breakthrough ACTION and the Centre for Communication Impact (CCI), a South African non-profit organization with expertise in strategic communication and community response activities. Expected activities include public communication, disinformation control, and strengthening social mobilization and community engagement.

USAID South Africa financing is from the Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases at USAID. USAID Administrator Mark Green committed $37 million dollars for 25 countries affected by novel coronavirus COVID-19 or at high risk of its spread. Other recipients of these funds include the World Health Organization, multilateral institutions, and programs led by USAID’s implementing partners across the 25 countries. These are the first U.S. government funds committed from the pledge of up to $100 million in COVID-19 response funding announced by the U.S. Department of State on February 7, 2020.